Writers will often say that we write our way into our stories. Or that, no matter the plan or outline, our stories or arguments unfold in the writing. That is definitely true for me. In the talk I gave in June entitled, “How Will Grandma Find Us?” I wrote myself into several new insights that I’m still reflecting on.

I may have convinced myself that I’m a naturalist. In my mind, naturalists are atheistic scientists who talk about “laws of nature,” and eschew ideas about God. My former profess...